PEARLAND, Texas -- The Houston Hoopstars had two weeks to think about what happened at the Bryan/College Station Great American Shoot-Out. The team took a pool-play loss and a loss in the championship game against the Texas D-1 Ambassadors-San Antonio.

That was their motivational fuel Sunday in the championship game of the Pearland GASO, and the much-anticipated rematch finally went in their favor.

In a battle of evenly matched teams, the Hoopstars defeated the Ambassadors, 60-51, at Pearland High School. The win helped cushion a 63-58 setback to the Ambassadors in the finals at the Bryan/College Station GASO.

"We didn't play the last time as a team," Hoopstars guard Evan Cooper said. "We just had to take it to full throttle. We had to push through."

Hoopstars forward Kavin Tilbury added: "We knew we would see them again. We just had to come prepared."

The Hoopstars used solid defense and a poised attack to get the win. The Ambassadors were held to 22 second-half points.

"Coach told us," Tilbury said, "if you're not going to play defense, sit on the bench."

The Hoopstars were aided by the return of University of Texas commitment Cameron Ridley, a 6-foot-10, five-star center who spent most of his weekend at the Amar'e Stoudemire skills camp in Chicago. Ridley returned in time for the Hoopstars' semifinal game against Deron Williams Elite.

Eight Hoopstars scored at least two points in the win. Tilbury led the team with 14 points, despite coming off the bench. Atif Russell had 13 points, and Ridley added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Ambassadors' Connor Lammert led all scorers with 15 points. Jeffrey Rodewald added 10 points in a loss.